Thomas Edward Zellars was born on 11 August 1898 in Grantville, Ga. Prior to his appointment to the Naval Academy Tommie attended Culver Military Academy where he received his childhood education. He was appointed a midshipman at the Naval Academy on 13 June 1917 and graduated on 3 June 1920, a year early as the result of the wartime shortening of the Academy's course of instruction. On 9 July 1920, he reported for duty in Mississippi (Battleship No. 41). Zellars served his entire, brief Navy career in Mississippi, rising to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) and attaining the position of turret commander in Mississippi's No. 2 14-inch turret. On 12 June 1924, while the battleship was engaged in gunnery practice off San Pedro, Calif., an explosion and fire engulfed his turret. Lt. (jg.) Zellars and 47 others were asphyxiated almost immediately but not before he turned on the flood valve which extinguished a burning powder train—an act which undoubtedly saved the ship and many of his shipmates from destruction. Photo from the United States Naval Academy Yearbook - Class of 1921

Bill Gonyo

95k

Artist's conception of the Zellars as she appeared after the early 1950's conversion by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.

Artist's conception of the Zellars as she appeared after FRAM II overhaul by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.

April 2 1945, two ships in the gunfire support group, TF 54, that were hit nearly simultaneously on 12 April, but the difference in their sizes accounted for the relative seriousness of the damage they suffered. USS Zellars (DD-777), on the right, was hit by a 'Jill' with a large bomb that exploded under her bridge. Fortunately, the explosion carried aft, away from the 5" magazines, but it forced the abandonment of the forward fireroom and started a fire that took several hours to contain. Zellars wa ultimately repaired, but not in time to rejoin the war. USS Tennessee (BB-43) also took a single hit, from a 'Val' also carrying a large armour-piercing bomb. The bomb penetrated her main deck and exploded in warrant officers' country, which was gutted by a persistent fire. She, however, was back in the firng line two days later. Photo National Archives and Records Admininstration.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.